Traffic line painting machine



May l, 1934. H. B. wENTz Er AL A 1,956,602

TRAFFIC LINE PAINTING MACHINE Filed June 10, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l vnumlll-lll.llllllllllllllllllllsi.. s llllllllllll z'sgil Huw ll H. B.WENTZ ET AL TRAFFIC LINE PAINTING MACHINE Filed June 10, 1931 I A J .74

May 1, 1934.

. May l, 1934- H. B. wEN'rz E-r A1.

TRAFFIC LINE PAINTING MACHINE Filed June l0, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 May1, 1934- H. B. wENTz ET A1.

TRAFFIC LINE PAINTING MACHINE Filed June 10, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 /MWI/W/ n @m 9 Rami Patented May l, 1934 VvUNiTEo sTATEs 1,956,602 TRAFFICLINE -PAINTING MACHINE Howard Brown Wentz andv John Bailey Pridgen,

Charlotte, N. C.

Application June i0, 1931, serial No. 543,432

12 Claims.

The object of our inventionvis to provide an improved machine forpainting a trafc line on streets and roadways as a guide to traffic; toprovide novel means for manually controlling the discharge of paint; toprovide an improved adjustably mounted brush for applying the paint; toprovide novel means for aiding the operatorl in guiding the machinealong a previously made line or curve or tangent; to provide means forpreventing dropping of paint and for preserving brushes when the paintmachine is vnot actually operating; to provide a machine vof differentshape and of relatively low height to permit of viewing a guide pointerover the paint containing body of the machine; and to provide the novelcombination and arrangement of parts disclosed in the accompanyingdrawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

We attain these and other objects of our invention by the mechanismillustrated in the accompanying' drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan View of same;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical section on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal section on line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the machine, a portion of the handle barsbeing broken away for lack of room to illustrate them;

Fig. '7 is a horizontal section on line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a fragmental plan View of the pointer mechanism, one extremeoperative position being shown in full lines and the other extremeoperative position being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 10 is a detail vertical section of a portion of the pointeroperating mechanism on line 10-10 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view on line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a detail transverse section of the brush mechanism on line12-12 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 13 isla detail longitudinal sectional view of the brush mechanismon line 13-13 of Fig.

'7; andv Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view of a modified type of brushso constructed that the bristle carrying portions'can be readilyreplaced.

Like numerals designate like parts in each of the several views.

(Cl. ill-39) Referring to the accompanying drawings We provide a paintcontaining body 1 mounted in a suitable frame 2 and supported on rearwheels 3 and a front wheel 4. The front wheel 4 is swivelly mounted inthe forward end of a tongue 5 which is affixed to the under side of thepaint containing body l and which extends well in advance of the paintcontaining body or box 1, as shown in Figure l. Attached to the frame 2and body of the machine are two handle bars 6 by means of which anoperator manually pushes the machine. Near the rear center of the bottomof the paint box is a paint discharge pipe '7 through which paint isdischarged to the opening 8 in the back 9 of 'the paint brush mechanism10, the paint discharge pipe 7 extending through the opening 8 so thatthe paint will not be scattered over the machine when the wind isblowing. At the top of the discharge pipe f7 is a valve 11 which ispivotally mounted at the rear to swing to a position to either open theupper end of the pipe or close it. 'Ihis valve l1 is controlled by avertical rod 12 and the valve is normally held in a closed position bythe spring 13, as shown in Fig. 3. The rod 12 has an L-shaped upper'end14 extending forward and to which is connected a rod 15 attached to theright handle of the machine and terminating. in a handle bar 16 andcontrolled by a spring 17 which with spring 13 tends to hold the valvein a normally closed posiion.

The paint spreader 10 is of novel construction and consists of theapertured back 9 which has two sets of brushes extending transverselyacross the front and transversely across the back of the spreader insubstantially spaced relation so that the paint may flow into thechamber 18 between the sets of brush elements. Each set of brushelements comprises spaced rows of bristles 19 and an intervening stripof folded asbestos sheet or other material 20 which is folded into aclose U-shape, as shown in Fig. 3. Mounted on each of the sides of thebrush back are two metal strips 21, as shown in Figs. 6, 12 and 13.These strips are provided with vertical slots 22 through which the bolts23 extend to loosely attach the strips to the backing member 9 and topermit of a free vertical movement of the strips as the machine movesalong the roadway. We provide leaf springs 24 mounted by means of abracket 25 on the brush back 9 and having the free ends of the leafspring resiliently engaging the upper edge of the metal strips 21, asshown in Figs. 12 and 13. Thus there is provided the enclosed spaces 18within which the paint flows onto the roadway to paint the desiredtraffic line.

The paint spreader 10 as a whole can be raised or lowered by the handlebar 26 which extends upward at the back of the paint box 1, as shown inFig. 3, and which is provided with a coil spring 27 contacting at itsupper end with the frame member 2 and at its lower end with a nut 28adjustably mounted on the screw-threaded lower end of the handle bar26'to permit of adjustment of the tension of the spring. The lower endof handle bar 26 is suitably fastened to the rear portion of the back 9of the paint spreader mechanism 10 for raising and lowering same. Thepurpose of raising the paint spreader as a whole by the handle 26 is topermit of sliding under the brush a metal pan 29 which is provided withlaterally anged sides, the flanges 30 of which, as shown in Figs. 6 and7, are slidably mounted on the angle bar tracks 31. This pan preventsdripping of the paint and preserves brushes when the machine is not inactual operation or is being moved from one place to another. The pan 29is operated by means of the pivoted bars 32 and 33, the bar 33 extendingvertically within convenient grasp of the operator, as indicated indotted lines in Fig. 3, and shown in full lines in Fig. 4.

The forward edge of the brush back 9 is pivotally connected at 34 to thebars 35, as shown in Figs. 7 and 13, which bars slant upwardly towardthe tongue of the machine and are pivotally attached at 36 to a block37, the block 37 in turn being pivotally connected by a bolt 38 todepending members 39 which are aiiixed to the under side of the tongue 5of the machine, as shown in Fig. 3. The block 37 is adjustably regulatedby the spaced set screws 40, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8. The purpose ofthis mechanism is to permit of adjusting the relative position of thebars 35 and consequently the brush back 9, so that as either side of thebrushes becomes more worn than the rest of the brush the brush may betiltably adjusted to compensate for the wear of the brush, therebyincreasing the life and usefulness of the brush by the simple expedientof adjusting it to keep it in contact with the surface of the roadway.

An important new feature of the machine is the hook like guide pointer41 positioned in front of the machine at a point where it is visible tothe operator from his normal position at the handle bars looking o-verthe top of paint box 1. This guide pointer 41 extends slantingly forwardat an. angle of 45 degrees or less from the horizontal, and the operatorwatches it to guide the machine the machine being operated so that thepointer will follow a chalk line which has been made along the center ofthe roadway by a separate machine to guide the operator who does thepainting of the large painted trafiic'line with this machine. This guidepointer 41 is laterally movable at the will of the operator, thismovement being for the purpose of accurately guiding the machine infollowing a curve in the direction of travel to be taken by the machinewhere the roadway curves or winds. The pointer is spaced substantiallyabove the roadbed itself and is suspended at its upper end by the bars42 and 43, these bars being connected at their ends by the end Amember44 which is bifurcated and which engages a groovcd collar 45 on bar 43,being fastened thereto by a suitableset screw 46. I also provide asuitable adjustable collar 57 on bar 43, as shown in Fig. 10. The endmemberl 44 may be integral with member 42 (in which case a looseconnection will be necessary) or may be a separate element pivotedthereto, as shown in Fig. 11. The bar 42 is pivotally attached to a bar47 which is pivotally mounted at 48 to a bar 49 attached to the top ofthe tongue 5 of the machine, as shown in Fig. 9. Bar 47 in turn ispivotally attached at 49 to a laterally extending bar 50 which has itsouter end 51 twisted to about a 45 degree angle and is apertured to beengaged by the l.-shaped end 52 of rod 53 which terminates at handle 54.In Fig. 9 the extreme outer position of the pointer and the relativeposition of the operatively connected parts are shown in full lines;while the innermost position of the pointer 4l and the relative positionof the operatively connected parts when the pointer is in that positionare shown in dotted lines.

Referring to Fig. 14 there is illustrated a modified form of brushhaving a backing 9 provided with transverse dovetail recesses in whichare removably mounted the dovetail inner brush and box 55 in which therows of bristles and asbestos strip are mounted, the object of thisconstruction being to permit of convenience in replacement of thebristles and fabric when worn without having to have the entire paintspreader removed.

In operating the machine the operator pushes the machine along by meansof the handle bars 6, at the same time watching the guide pointer 41 andfollowing the line which has previously been made along the center ofthe roadway. When a curve in the roadway is encountered the guidepointer; is shifted laterally toward or away from the tongue 5, thepointer normally keeping a position very close to tongue 5. By operatingthe handle member 54, the mechanism controlling the guide pointeroperates in the manner illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings and asheretofore described. The discharge of paint from the paint box 1 iscontrolled by operating the handle 16 to open valve l1 and release thepaint through discharge pipe 7 to the chamber 18 within the paintspreader mechanism l0, the paint being kept from flowing laterally bythe resiliently pressed vertically slidable side members 21. The paintdischarge pipe 7 is preferable swingably suspended as by a suitable orconventional ball and socket so that when the machine is travelingaround an incline the paint pipe can be thrown to the upper side toprevent the paint from all flowing to the lowest side. If discharged atthe upper side of the chamber in the paint brush assembly, it willnaturally flow to the lower and` suitable notches 56 to hold it in adesired raised position in which position the pan 29 may be slid underit by grasping the bar 33 and pulling it rearward, thus causing the panto slide on tracks 31 to a position under the brush to prevent paintfrom flowing onto the ground or roadway when it is not desired.

If the brush itself becomes worn it may be adjusted by the adjustment ofthe block 37 by means of the two set screws 40 as heretofore describedto keep the ends of the bristles in contact with the roadway if one sideof the brush becomes more worn than the other side. The life of thebrush is thus increased. It may be observed that the paint spreader orbrush assembly has two means of adjustment, namely by screws 40 as abovedescribed to adjust the brushes when one side becomes worn; and a secondadjustment -this machine with wire brushes.

which is made by the bolt inserted in the elongated hole located betweenmembers 35 and 34 in Fig. 13. This adjustment enables the operator toadjust the front or rear of the brush assembly. Screws 40 adjust onlythe brushes themselves while the other means of adjustment permits ofadjusting the entire paint spreader or brush assembly.

It will be noted that the top of the paint box is sumciently low so thatthe operator can look over itr and see the end of the pointer clearlyWhile he is pushing the machine along the roadway, as this guide pointer41 is used to guide him in directing the course of the machine, thepointer being kept in line with the chalk line previously made and whichthe line of painting is to follow.

We prefer to provide paint brushes made of wire. With such brushes hotpaint may be used in the machine. When the paint is very cold in thewinter it becomes thick. If heated it iiow's more evenly and puts athinner coat on the road, making it more lasting and less expensive; Byheating tar or asphalt a very cheap paint can be made which can beusedwith The hot paint would immediately destroy a bristle brush.

What we claim is:-

l. In a traic line painting machine, the combination of a paint box,rear wheels, a valve controlled discharge pipe opening out of the paintbox, paint spreader mechanism suspended beneath the paint box and intowhich the paint is delivered, said paint spreader mechanism comprising abrush back, a plurality of transversely arranged rows of bristles at theback and front of the brush and intervening strips of suitable materialsuch as asbestos mounted in the back between the respective rows ofbristles, and vertically movable side plates mounted on the sides of thepaint spreader to prevent the paint from flowing out laterally.

2. In a tranic line painting machine, the combination of a paint box, aWheeled frame supporting the paint box, handle bars for manuallyoperating the same, manually operated valveI mechanism for controllingthe discharge of paint, a paint spreader mechanism comprising aplurality of brush elements spaced one forward of the other into whichthe paint is discharged, means connected with the front portion of thepaint spreader mechanism for adjusting the op.- erating level of thebrush elements to compensate for wear on the brushes by tilting andspreader mechanism as a whole.

3. In a traic line painting machine, the combination of a paintcontaining body, a Wheeled frame on which the body is mounted, aspreader suspended beneath the body, means fordelivering paint to .saidpaint spreader lmechanism, manually operated valve mechanism forcontrolling the delivery of paint to said spreader mechanism, manuallycontrolled means for elevating the paint spreader mechanism, meanspivotally connected with the front portion of the spreader` mechanismand with the frame work of the vehicle for adjustably securing thespreader mechanism in a tilted position toward either side of themachine to compensate for wear on one end of the brush.

4. In a spreader mechanism for a painting machine of the type described,the combination of a brush back, spaced transversely arranged dependingrows of bristles extending across the front portion of the back, spacedtransversely arranged depending rows of bristles extending across theback portion of the brush, an intervening sheet of asbestos, metal sidemembers loosely mounted on the sides of the spreader to permit ofvertical movement, springs engaging the top of said metal plates toresiliently hold same to the road-bed, and means for delivering paint tothe desired portion of the spreader.

5. In a paint spreader mechanism for a trailic line painting machine,the combination of a paint spreader mechanism having spaced dovetailrecesses extending transversely of the front and of the rear portion ofthe spreader and dovetail shaped smaller bristle holding membersslidably mounted in the back of the spreader, said bristle holdingmembers carrying spaced rows of bristles and an intervening sheet ofasbestos or other suitable material.

6. -A pavement striper including a wheeled frame, a paint tank supportedon the forward end of said frame and having a delivery nozzle,l

a brush mounted on said frame for movement into and out of pavementengaging position, and a drip pan movable into and out of positionbeneath the brush upon the latter being out of pavement engagingposition.

'7. A pavement striper including a wheeled frame, a paint tank supportedon the forward end of said -frame and having a delivery nozzle, a brushmounted on said frame for movement into and out of pavement engagingposition, a drip pan supported from the main frame for horizontalmovement into and out of position beneath the brush when raised, andmeans to move said drip pan.

8. A pavement striper including a wheeled frame, a paint tank supportedon the forward end of said frame and having a delivery nozzle, a brushmounted on said frame for movement into and out of pavement engagingposition, longitudinally extending drip pan guides suspended from themain frame to the rear of said brush, a drip pan mounted on the guides,and means to reciprocate the drip pan on said guides.

9. In a traflic line painting machine, the combination of a paint box, aframe for same, wheels supporting the paint box, a tongue attached tothe under side of the paint box and having a front wheel swivellymounted to the tongue, a paint spreader mechanism suspended beneath thepaint box, means for controlling the discharge of paint to the paintspreader mechanism, manually controlled means for raising the paintspreader mechanism, and a pan slidably mounted under the paint box andadapted to be slid under the paint spreader mechanism when not in use.

10. In a traic line painting machine, the combination of a paint box, aframe for same, wheels supporting the paint box, a tongue attachedto'the underside of the paint box and having a front wheel swivellymounted to the tongue, a paint spreader mechanismsuspended beneath thepaint box, means for controlling the discharge of paint to the paintspreader mechanism, manually controlled means for raising the paintspreader mechanism, a pan slidably mounted under the paint box andadapted to be slid under the paint spreader mechanismwhen not in use,and manually operated means for sliding the pan under the spreadermechanism.

l1. In a traffic line/painting machine, the combination of a paintcontaining body, a wheeled frame on which the body is mounted, aspreader mechanism suspended beneath the body, means for deliveringpaint to said paint spreader mechanism, manually operated valvemechanism for controlling the delivery of'paint to said spreadermechanism, manually controlled means for elevating the paint spreadermechanism, a pan slidably mounted on the under side of the body, andmanually operated means for sliding the pan under the spreader when thespreader mechanism is in an elevated position.

12. In a traic line painting machine, the combination of a paintcontaining body, a wheeled frame on which the body is mounted, aspreader suspended beneath the body, means for delivering paint to saidspreader mechanism, manually operated valve mechanism for controllingthe delivery of paint to said spreader mechanism, manually controlledmeans for elevating the paint spreader mechanism, a pan slidably mountedon the under side of the body, manually operated means for sliding thepan under the spreader when the spreader mechanism is in an elevatedposition, means pivotally connected with the front portion of thespreader mechanism and with the frame work of the vehicle for adjustablysecuring the spreader in a tilted position toward either side of themachine to compensate for wear on one side of the brush.

HOWARD BROWN WENTZ.

JOHN BAILEY PRIDGEN.

